Broward Judge Cynthia Imperato Facing Suspension and Fine over DUI

On Monday, a state judicial panel recommended that Broward Judge Cynthia Imperato be reprimanded, fined and temporarily suspended following her DUI guilty verdict from last December. Palm Beach County Judge Mark Eissey originally sentenced Imperato to 20 days of house arrest, and one year probation, following the guilty verdict on December 19. Imperato had appealed the sentence.

Imperato was busted for DUI back in November of 2013 after driving home from a social gathering with fellow judges and lawyers at Maggiano's restaurant in Boca. Imperato had admitted to having two glasses of wine, but has maintained that she wasn't impaired when cops pulled her over.

The latest recommendations, filed by the Judicial Qualifications Commission with the Florida Supreme Court on Monday, says that Imperato should be allowed to keep her job as a judge, but that she should be publicly reprimanded and fined $5,000. The panel also recommends a 20-day suspension without pay.

In addition, the Judicial Qualifications Commission said that Imperato should undergo an alcohol evaluation with the completion of any recommended treatment.

For her part, the AP reports that Imperato has agreed to these terms, and will have to file a formal response to the Commission. According to the recommendation, Imperato "agrees that a judge should act at all times in a manner that promotes the public confidence in the judiciary."

According to prosecutor Ari Goldberg, Imperato was visibly intoxicated on the night she was arrested. Goldberg says that Imperato's Mercedes was swerving violently on the road when cops spotted her and that the officers noted she had had a difficult time getting her wallet out of her purse. When asked for her license and registration, Imperato instead handed over her judicial badge,

The Commission recommendation says that Imperato admitted that this was a poor decision on her part. She also refused a roadside breathalyzer test.

"Judge Imperato admits that because of her position, she should not have displayed her judicial badge or referred to her status as a judge in any way that could have been perceived as an attempt to use the prestige of her office to obtain preferential treatment," the recommendation reads. "She also admits that a judge should be faithful to the law and so she should have complied with the officer's lawful commands and should have agreed to submit to a breathalyzer test."

It's up to the state's Supreme Court to accept or reject the Judicial Qualifications Commission's recommendation.

Imperato is one of a handful of Broward judges who have been allegedly caught driving impaired.